By Cesar Zafra
On Friday, December 2, president-elect Donald J. Trump received and answered a phone call from the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, who congratulated him on his recent election win. Trump congratulated her on being elected into office earlier this year. During the conversation, both parties recognized the close economic and security ties between the two countries.
Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan, is associated with the Democratic Progressive Party, a political party known for its pro-independence sentiments. The Democratic Progressive Party does not believe that Taiwan and China are one entity; Taiwan ex-President Chen Shui-bian expressed his belief in 2008 that Taiwan is not owned by the People’s Republic of China.
The diplomatic relationship between Taiwan and the United States ended in 1979 when the U.S. chose China in favor of Taiwan in order to maintain a better relations with China— one which has remained solid for decades. The phone call comes in conflict with these relations, especially because of the tense relationship between Taiwan and China.
However, Vice President-elect Mike Pence told skeptics that it was a mere congratulation call and help no deeper meaning, emphasizing that Tsai Ing-wen was elected democratically. Republicans who have a chance of being chosen for high-position jobs praised Trump on the basis of pushing a competitive agenda towards China— Trump has reportedly shown interest in expanding hotels into the North-West region of Taiwan.
In response to the call, an overseas edition of the People’s Daily, the largest newspaper group in China as well an official production of the Chinese Communist Party, suggested that Trump’s aggressive motives would result in hardships between China and the U.S., ultimately creating more obstacles for the U.S. than for China.
The People’s Daily is prominently known for providing information on policy pronouncements and a foreign ministry spokesman representing China said that Beijing issued a complaint to the U.S.
In response to people’s claims that the call was controversial, Trump tweeted examples of decisions China has made without asking for the U.S.’s opinion. By highlighting this, he aims to shoot down the idea that decisions he makes first need approval from China— a tactic that further pushes a stricter nature between the two powers.
His attack on China’s trade and security policies also amplify the possibility that Trump intends to reform the alliance by asserting the U.S.’s aggression and demand for a different, likely tougher, diplomatic relationship.
